Comparison

Paracetamol vs ibuprofen: which to choose

Two everyday painkillers that work differently. Here is how to pick the right one, and when you can use both.

In short

Paracetamol is gentle on the stomach and good for general pain and fever. Ibuprofen (an anti-inflammatory) suits swelling, period and dental pain, but take it with food and avoid it with certain conditions. For most adults, they can be combined or alternated.

Side by side

	Paracetamol	Ibuprofen
How it works	Pain and fever relief	Anti-inflammatory: pain, fever, swelling
Best for	Headache, general pain, fever	Period, dental, muscular pain, swelling
Stomach	Gentle	Take with food; can irritate the stomach
Caution	Do not exceed the dose	Avoid with some stomach, kidney or heart conditions

Frequently asked

Can I take them together?

For most adults, yes. They work differently, so you can take them together or alternate them. Follow the dose on each pack and never exceed it.

Which is better for a fever?

Both reduce fever. Paracetamol is often the first choice as it is gentle on the stomach; ibuprofen is useful if there is also inflammation.